Teich Boutique – West Village

Teich is a return to the Mom and Pop shop. Allison Teich- McGowan, the owner of Teich says “We came up with the concept of shop Mom and Pop. We are a local, mom and pop shop selling local brands and independent labels. It’s an anecdote to Bleecker street where everything is big brands.” The store holds true, selling her signature locally made handbags, sustainable jewelry, organic kids t-shirts, handcrafted toys, locally made skin care products, and local art.

McGowan opened the first Teich store in the East Village a few years ago, sharing the space with a jewelry designer friend. The West Village store opened just a few weeks ago. McGowan, who lives in the West Village, saw the available space as “a good opportunity to open a store close to home.”

McGowan began designing bags in 2004 and works with sustainable materials like organic cotton canvas, and deer skin leather. She produces the bags in small quantities at a factory in Brooklyn.

What is her design inspiration? “I’m most inspired by New York and being a New Yorker” says McGowan, and adds “When we leave our house we carry everything on us, we don’t have cars and you really want to have everything well organized. So number one, I keep that lifestyle in mind, what New Yorkers or city dwellers would want.” She continues with “I like clean lines with a bag, that won’t overpower your outfit. I work with color but found over the years that simplicity is often appreciated.”

Teich has a very cozy neighborhood feel and people have noticed. McGowan says the best part so far has been “meeting all the people who live in the neighborhood and stop by, everyone is so friendly.”